Translation Studies - Italian & Spanish

Overview
The MA in Translation Studies provides expert training in the linguistic and intercultural knowledge and communication skills required to become a professional translator. Drawing on wide-ranging expertise in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, the course currently allows you to focus on translation between one or more of the following languages and English: French, Spanish, Italian, Irish, Portuguese and German. Through hands-on practical language classes, the course builds the high-level language competence necessary to work in a broad range of fields, such as business, commerce, publishing, tourism and journalism.

In addition it offers up-to-date training in the research methods and tools used by contemporary translators, providing a comprehensive grounding for further postgraduate research. As well as offering recent language graduates the opportunity to refine professional language skills, the course also caters for practising translators who want specialist knowledge of developments in translation studies, translation technology and language resources.

Course Practicalities
The MA in Translation Studies course is one year full time or two years part time. The taught element (or Part I) takes place on the main UCC campus from September to April. Depending on your chosen language combination, you can expect around 12-15 principal contact hours per week during term time, with most of the core hours delivered between 4 and 6pm on week days. Guided self-study and small-group practice will be an important part of the practical translation training.

As well as the taught elements of the course, you are expected to complete a 12,000 to 15,000 word dissertation. The research dissertation element of the course (Part II) is supported by one-to-one tutorials.

Entry requirements

You will normally have at least an honours primary degree or equivalent with at least a 2.1 in the language or language pair to be taken in the MA. However, students with an honours primary degree at a 2.2 will be considered, subject to adequate proof of language proficiency as assessed by the programme coordinators.

Detailed Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally have an Honours primary degree in languages or language-related area studies with at least a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in the language / language pair being taken in the MA or, for students with native proficiency in a/the language named in the strand(s) for which they are applying, they should normally have an Honours primary degree with at least a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a relevant discipline (Applied Languages, Linguistics, Philology or another discipline in which they wish to specialise as a translator). Students with a 2H2 will be considered, subject to adequate proof of language proficiency as assessed by the programme coordinators. They may also be required to present themselves for an interview.

Students choosing Irish may be required to take an informal language test before being accepted.

For all applicants whose first language is not English an IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL equivalent is required. Further information on English Language Requirements can be found at http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/how/

Applicants who do not meet the normal academic requirements may also be considered following a review of their individual qualifications and experience by the course committee. Admission of such applicants will be subject to the approval of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences.

The MA has 17 different streams and applicants should choose their specific stream at the application stage.

Stream 1: French and German
Stream 2: French and Italian
Stream 3: French and Spanish
Stream 4: German and Italian
Stream 5: German and Spanish
Stream 6: Italian and Spanish
Stream 7: French
Stream 8: German
Stream 9: Italian
Stream 10: Spanish
Stream 11: Spanish and Portuguese (Portuguese is offered together with Spanish only)
Stream 12: French and Irish
Stream 13: German and Irish
Stream 14: Irish and Italian
Stream 15: Irish and Spanish
Stream 16: Irish
Stream 17: Asian Studies (offered as a single stream only)

If you are applying with Qualifications obtained outside Ireland and you wish to verify if you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements for this programme please see course webpage (link below) to view the grades comparison table by country and for details of recognised English language tests

Duration

1 year Full-time; 2 years Part-time. The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Number of credits

90 credits

Careers or further progression

Skills and Careers Information
Because of its focus on fostering high level professional communication skills in a range of different languages, the course will help you develop the linguistic and intercultural competence necessary to work in a broad range of fields, such as business, commerce, publishing, tourism and journalism. You will also receive specific careers training related to the jobs in translation and interpreting.

Subjects taught

The MA in Translation Studies delivers state-of-the-art training in all of the areas necessary to become a professional translator. Core lectures and seminars on Contemporary Translation Theory and Practice (LL6018) and/or Theory and Methodology of Advanced Translation (FR6501) provide an introduction to contemporary developments in translation theory, different approaches to text analysis and computer-aided translation tools.

These are complemented by generic and language-specific research seminars and training modules, which cover contemporary research methods, up-to-date careers guidance, skills for researching specialist fields and advanced oral and written presentation skills. The remaining core element of the course is dedicated to specialist weekly practical language classes, focused on developing professional translation and intercultural communication skills in each of the languages taken on the course. Because of this emphasis on intensive language-specific practical translation training, the MA in Translation Studies has been divided into different streams which require students to choose their language specialism when they apply.

The range of subjects includes Methodology of Simultaneous and Consecutive Interpreting (FR6502); Intercultural Communication: Theory and Practice (GE6009); Questions of Adaptation and Adoption: Re-Writings/ Re-Viewings/Re-Readings (GE6020); ICT of the Localisation Industry (LL6013); Translation and Professional Communication Skills (LL6014).

For further details and descriptions of the current core and optional modules available on each of these streams, please see course webpage (link below)

Comment

Unique Aspects of the Course
The course allows you to combine up-to-date training in contemporary developments in translation theory, text analysis and computer aided translation tools with intensive language-specific practical translation training in a range of different languages.

Assessment method

Marks for Part I of the course are derived from continuous assessment of essays, presentations, practical translation work, take-home or online assignments, timed class tests, translation projects, terminology projects and interpreting tests. Some of the practical language-specific modules are assessed by examination. Full details and regulations governing assessments for the course are contained in the online Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.

Application date

Applications for 2017-18 intake are now open.

While UCC operates a rounds system for Postgraduate Taught courses (detailed below) we would advise you to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: Offers will be made:

For all completed applications received by January 16th 2017 Offers will be made by January 30th 2017

For all completed applications received by March 1st 2017 Offers will be made by March 15th 2017

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2017 Offers will be made by May 15th 2017

For all completed applications received by July 3rd 2017 Offers will be made by July 17th 2017

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity for places.